Early Childhood Educators (ECE) now have better access to employment and immigration in Canada

17 Jan 2025

The Canadian government has been tightening its measures against international students and other temporary residents, most notably the new Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) restrictions and spousal open work permit restrictions, which have caused concern for many job and immigration seekers. However, despite these changes, the field of Early Childhood Education (ECE) remains a highly desirable field for employment and immigration to Canada. This is due to its designation as a PGWP-eligible discipline and its potential inclusion in the Express Entry category-based selection process. Therefore, ECE is expected to play an increasingly important role in Canadian employment and immigration.

In 2024, Citizenship and Immigration Canada held a public consultation on the review of Express Entry categories and the introduction of new categories, which raised the question of whether to include an Education category from 2025 onwards, which has since been under review. Express Entry category-based selection is designed to address long-term labor shortages, such as early childhood education. It works in parallel with the Express Entry general selection by categorizing applicants in specific categories and issuing invitations in order of their scores, so that those in the category have a better chance of being selected with a lower score. Given the current state of the Canadian economy and labor market, the introduction of the Education category makes a lot of sense and is great news for immigration applicants, as it will significantly increase the chances of permanent residency for those in related occupations.

Notably, in December 2024, courses related to early childhood education and development services were added to the list of PGWP-eligible programs, which is a policy move in a similar direction and further increases the likelihood of inclusion in the Express Entry category. Citizenship and Immigration Canada currently does not grant PGWP to all college graduates, but rather to specific disciplines. The programs are related to healthcare, STEM, technology, transportation, and agriculture and agri-food, all of which are designated as skills shortages in Canada and are included in the Express Entry category-based selection. Similarly, the Education category is new, with the following subject areas and CIP codes: Early Childhood Education and Pedagogy (13.1210), Developmental Service Workers (19.0710), Montessori Teacher Education (13.1207), Waldorf/Steiner Teacher Education (13.1208), Child Development (19.0706), and Child Care Support Services (19.0708).

Key occupations expected to be included in the Express Entry education category in 2025 include elementary and kindergarten teachers (NOC 41221), elementary and secondary school paraprofessionals (NOC 43100), early childhood education teachers (NOC 42202), secondary school teachers (NOC 41220), educational counselors (NOC 41320), and instructors of persons with disabilities (NOC 42203). Of these, early childhood teachers are highly accessible to foreign workers, and the relatively short time from certification to employment is a major advantage.

The field of early childhood education also benefits from provincial nominee programs (PNPs), which offer separate categories for selection. For example, the BC PNP designates early childhood educators as a priority occupation, and with PNP scores dropping significantly in recent months, more applicants are being invited to apply. These changes have a direct impact on the ability of early childhood education graduates to stabilize in Canada and obtain permanent residency.

Early childhood education plays an important role in Canada's immigration policy and economic growth strategy, and is currently one of the country's most in-demand sectors. For international students and immigrants, this makes it more than just an academic choice; it is one of the most effective pathways to successful settlement and permanent residency in Canada. The final inclusion of the Express Entry education category has yet to be finalized, but if it is, it will open up even greater possibilities for early childhood education. If you're planning your future in Canada, we encourage you to start preparing now through the Early Childhood Education category.


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